SCMVB wants highway visitor centers reopened

FALL RIVER — A new Visitor Information Center in the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce lobby is being seen as a solution to a gap in access to tourism-related information, but the chamber and regional tourism advocates ultimately want more.

FALL RIVER — A new Visitor Information Center in the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce lobby is being seen as a solution to a gap in access to tourism-related information, but the chamber and regional tourism advocates ultimately want more.

As efforts in Southeastern Massachusetts to rebuild tourism gain ground, the lack of visitor information centers remains a thorny obstacle — leaving a gap in getting information about the region's many attractions to drivers passing through to other destinations.

Capturing summer traffic on its way to places like Cape Cod had been the function of visitor centers located along major highways, including one in Swansea on I-195 and one in Mansfield on Route 95. But that role has been unfilled since 2009, when both centers were closed after funding cuts. The closings leave a gap in the region's tourism infrastructure.

"It bothers us that the first thing that a visitor into Massachusetts sees is closed," said Robert Mellion, president and CEO of the Fall River chamber. "That's the impression you get when you drive into the SouthCoast — that it's closed."

The newly reorganized Southeastern Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking a solution, Mellion said. The chamber is one of five Bristol County chambers working collectively through the SMCVB to advance tourism goals in the region. The SMCVB had been the organization managing the visitor centers before they closed.

In response, the Fall River chamber has attempted to fill the city's immediate need with the grand opening of a visitor center in its lobby. The renovation includes a redesigned lobby with front desk and display racks to renovation includes a redesigned lobby with front desk and display racks to hold brochures and flyers. Businesses are encouraged to drop their flyers off at the chamber to be included in the displays.

While it doesn't solve the larger problem, Mellion said it's a pragmatic solution for Fall River. The city is also expecting a new waterfront kiosk will be built as part of state Department of Transportation renovations in the city but that will not happen for this tourism season.

"We get people walking in here every day," he said about the chamber office. "We get calls, between 10 and 20 a day, from people outside of the region communicating with us to get information on events and venues and attractions throughout the area."

Although the goal is to see the centers reopen, existing obstacles include the need for substantial funding and required facility upgrades for the Swansea site.

"It's going to mean resources from the state," said Roy Nascimento, president of the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. "It requires legislative delegation involvement working to seek a legislative remedy."

If resources are provided, Nascimento said Mansfield is the site most likely to reopen. "The biggest obstacle (for Swansea) is the septic system," he added. "It's really outdated and can't reopen without spending a lot of money."

An alternative is to establish an unstaffed information display in Swansea, Mellion said.

"We have a new proposal to bulldoze the site and put a kiosk there that's static where people can at least get some information," he said, of one option being considered.

Visitor centers are an important part of rebuilding tourism in the region, said both Mellion and Nascimento.

"The visitor centers are a very important feeder system for tourism, both Mansfield and Swansea, for getting out information, maps, and details on attractions," said Nascimento.